The fee for curbside collection of garbage, food waste and recyclables will go up this year for the area’s rural residents.
The Regional District of Nanaimo board approved a four-per cent fee increase for waste collection at its regular meeting on March 27.
Prior to voting, RDN manager of solid waste services, Ben Routledge, explained that the increase includes three per cent for general cost increases and one per cent for inclusion of a yard waste program.
Compared to other regional districts, Routledge indicated the RDN’s curbside utility fees are about average.
“Some are a little bit higher, a couple are a little bit lower but they have reduced service in those areas,” he said.
The other increase that some residents will face is a garbage cart swap fee. Those wishing to exchange their smaller bins to a larger garbage cart will pay $75, which is up from $50. Residents wishing to swap their small recycling cart to a larger one, however, can do so for free, as the RDN has eliminated the $50 charge.
“Our intent with this is to drive recycling as the first choice when we’re looking at curbside collection,” said Routledge. “So as residents have access to recycling, they can increase that diversion from the landfill, helping to achieve our 90 per cent diversion goal while also supporting our Recyle B.C. contract.”
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When the RDN introduced the automated garbage collection system in 2020, it also brought in new carts of varying sizes for garbage, organics and recycling. Since then, the RDN has had more than 650 cart exchanges requested.
“What we’re seeing is residents that first chose an 80- or 100-litre cart are moving to that 240-litre cart,” said Routledge. “What we’re hoping to be able to do is when we get these requests, because we actually see this continuing into the future, we can offer to folks, ‘hey would you like to try a larger recycling bin cart? There will be no cost to you. Maybe that will help reduce the amount of garbage that you’re putting out and to be able to get longer …. get the two-week cycle with your garbage and support that diversion effort.”
Routledge indicated the RDN, using reserve funds, purchased more carts last year to ensure they have enough to cover the demand for cart swaps, reducing any wait time.